I'm sure that most (if not all) college students will agree that one of the most exhausting and painstaking times out of the year is the last few weeks of each semester. It is during this time that an avalanche of final papers, projects, and exams dominate our schedules. Students become overwhelmed by all of the tasks set before them, not just because of the sheer quantity of it all, but because these assignments all carry a significant amount of weight to our grades. It's the final hump we jump over before we reach the end. Finals week is the driving force that compels us to post memes that express our frustration and exhaustion on our social media accounts.

Yes, it sucks. Yes, it's madness. However, I think we could all benefit from stepping back and think about what also makes finals week awesome (or at least a little easier).

So here's my list of just a handful of things that have made my finals week pretty sweet.

7. Free food.

After I finished a long study session at my university library, I was about to walk out the door until I saw boxes of free nutrition bars sitting on a table for the taking. It was a small gesture that made all the difference, as I was getting pretty hungry and had a 30-minute drive back home ahead of me.

6. Therapy dogs.

Oh, the cuteness! Oh, the fluffiness! The therapy dogs that were available on campus during finals week brought a smile to my face. They also reminded me that I could dedicate some more time to loving on the dogs that I already have back home.

5. The Internet.

Seriously! While, if used unwisely, the Internet can be a distraction, it can also serve as one of your greatest tools in preparation for final exams. For example, I like to use websites such as quizlet.com to create online flashcards that I can study with! In addition, I can also share the study sets I create with my classmates.

4. Librarian Angels.

All too often, we forget to utilize our librarians. Ramsey Library at UNC Asheville offers research sessions where you can meet with a librarian who will help you find resources for projects and papers on databases. It's worth taking the time to schedule. There have been numerous times when my university's librarians have helped me locate academic sources much more quickly than I could have. What I love is when they show me how to navigate different databases on my own for future reference. They have lots of helpful tricks up their sleeves!

3. Fellowship.

There's something about finals week that can bring classmates together. I've found study groups to not only be an effective way to prepare for exams, but also a wonderful way to build connections with your peers! It makes me think about all of the friends I've made through college and how I most likely would not have met any of them otherwise.

2. The privilege of being educated.

I think this is something that some students can have a tendency to forget. The education we are receiving from higher academic institutions is a privilege that affords us incredible opportunities -- not just within the college setting, but through the rest of our lives. There are people who would do anything to be in our position. So as challenging as it may feel at times, we need to remember to step back and put our privilege into perspective.

1. Reaching the finish line.

We should always try to celebrate our accomplishments. Getting through a semester of college is a triumph that we should take pride in. So give yourself time to enjoy the victory of making it through another term!